Stark Music Scholarship Auditions

Music Theory Placement & Scholarship Audition Day

All new music students at Kent State Stark must complete a music theory placement evaluation and a performance audition before course registration can take place. Students can also apply for music scholarships by participating in a scholarship audition.

To be eligible for a music scholarship, a student must show exceptional potential as a musician and as a scholar. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration.

1. Submit the Online Music Scholarship Application

This will also make your reservation for the Theory Placement & Audition Day
on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

Complete the online music scholarship application and submit all scholarship materials by Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

Submit Official Transcripts
New students from high school must submit official high school transcripts. Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all previous colleges attended. Current Kent State Stark and transfer students who have completed fewer than two full semesters of college should also submit official high school transcripts. Current Kent State Stark students do not need to submit Kent State transcripts.

Recommendation Forms
You are required to submit two (2) Recommendation Forms. New students from high school should submit recommendations from teachers, counselors or your school principal. Transfers and current college students should submit recommendations from professors.

Your references will complete the forms and return them to the address listed on the form. Be sure you advise them of the scholarship deadline.

All application materials should be sent by the above deadline to:
Dr. Sebastian Birch
Music Department
Kent State University at Stark
6000 Frank Avenue NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720

2. Prepare for your Performance & Scholarship Audition

Audition pieces vary according to the candidate's specific major performance medium. The following summaries are offered as guidelines to prepare for an audition. If you would like to substitute any literature, contact the individual listed for appropriate audition materials.

One song in a foreign language selected from any of the following composers. Must be memorized.
Italian: Scarlatti, Caldara, Donaudy, Giordani, Bononcini, Monteverdi, Carlissimi, Gluck, Handel, Marcello, Pergolesi, Lotti
German: Brahms, Schubert, Schumann
French: Debussy, Faure
If you don't have a foreign language song, you can perform a second song in English.

Candidates are requested to provide their own accompanist. If this is not possible, a CD of the accompaniment is acceptable.

Demonstration of sight reading proficiency and pitch-matching.

Suitable voice audition repertory is listed on the Ohio Music Educator's Association "Solo and Small Ensemble" repertory list, available from your high school choral director.

Two prepared pieces in contrasting styles. You can choose from the following styles: rock, jazz, blues, pop, metal or country. One piece can be played with accompanying tracks, with the exception of the part you are performing. A demonstration of both chord/accompanimental work and soloing/single string technique is encouraged.

Major and minor pentatonic/blues scales in any key using two different fingerings.

Students will be given a "chord inventory" to determine what voicings he or she may know.

Contact George Bachmann at gbachman@kent.edu for questions regarding appropriate repertoire.

Composition Majors
The Composition major is normally elected at the end of a sophomore year with the approval of the Composition faculty. At that time, candidates will be asked to submit recent examples of their work in composition and to take a skills test. Composition majors will fulfill general requirements in music during their first two years of study. Students must audition in a major performance medium and are required to study piano. Candidates should consult suggested audition repertoire in their major performance medium. Composition majors begin their study in the Bachelor of Arts degree program. Contact Dr. Sebastian Birch at sbirch@kent.edu for questions regarding the Composition major.